This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I’m stoked to say that it lived up to all of my hopes!

Juniper is the definition of black cat energy (although her pet cat is even grumpier than her to hilarious ends) and Callum is the epitome of down bad. If you thought that Malcolm from Whiskey Business was the king do yearning be prepared because he had nothing on this story. Years of pent up emotions and tension and a man with a protective streak a mile wide? Yes please. Gimme 14 of em.

The tension between these two? The banter? The back and forth and slow burn!? It was impossible to put down and I can’t recommend it enough.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for this advanced copy of Scotch on the Rocks.

Overall: 4 out of 5 Stars

Scotch on the Rocks tells the story of Callum, brother to Mal from the first book, and his love of Juniper, their other brother’s ex.
Brothers Ex isn’t my favorite trope, but it can be done well, and I think this book toes the line. It’s a hard line when the brother will eventually be a main character in the series. But I think Elliot Fletcher handles it well by giving Juniper’s past depth and understanding as to why she was so hurt by her ex, without ruining the ex for future storyline.

I really enjoyed the banter of this book. Callum and Juniper are vicious to each other in great ways. My only critique is the instant love. It makes for great sappy moments for Callum confessing, but we never really get why Callum fell for June so instantly. Especially since she had been Heather’s friend since they were kids? Why did he instantly fall for her later? Besides that I really liked the book and give it a solid 4 stars.

AMAZING!!
In this enticing Scottish romance, opposites collide with undeniable chemistry between Juniper Ross and the captivating Callum Macabe. Juniper, steadfast in her rules to avoid the Macabe brothers, finds herself irresistibly drawn to Callum, despite the forbidden allure. As sparks fly and tensions rise, their interactions become increasingly frequent, blurring the lines between attraction and restraint. With Juniper navigating the complexities of past relationships and lingering desires, Callum emerges as a charming and persistent presence in her life. Set against the backdrop of a small-town romance, this story explores the thrill of breaking the rules and the magnetic pull of unexpected love.

4 stars!⭐️ Thanks Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I used to have a pathological fear of Scottish romances due to the overuse of the word lass, but I dinna ken what I was thinking (see what I did there). Not only was this book adorable, but the yearning and banter was top notch too. I do think the pacing felt a little off — the last 40% did plateau, and I think Callum and Juniper’s character arcs moved too fast near the end. But otherwise can’t wait to read the rest of these silly Scottish whisky books

Honestly, this Macabe Brothers series has become one of my new favorite contemporary reads. The first book was something I picked up on a whim, but I loved the grumpy/sunshine interplay there; the dynamic here is a lot more antagonistic, closer to a love/hate, but I also enjoyed that the FMC was the pricklier one and for reasons that became more and more clear as the book progressed. Great sense of place, terrific chemistry between the leads, and it all wraps up in such a way that I HAVE to know how the next book goes, given who's leading it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Juniper and Callum... man what can I say! I really enjoyed the first book... but DAMN this one... wow it blew me away. The tropes??? ex-fiances brother? sign me TF up. I was absolutely in love with juniper. she guarded her heart so close, especially after having it broken by her ex. and Callum? what a love sick little puppy. even after all these years he was still head over heals for this woman.

the way they were able to tear her walls down, be real with each other, and learn to love again (mostly on her end) was such a nice story. this was very well written, and done so well I couldn't put it down. I really enjoy seeing parts of me in stories... usually the one who guards themselves and would rather be independent than ever ask for help... and I just love seeing what could be. I would definitely recommend this to people, and can't wait to see what comes next!

Juniper is all black-cat energy to Callum’s golden retriever charm. She works at a cozy inn on the Isle of Skye; he’s the local vet — and, as if that weren’t complicated enough, she used to be engaged to his brother. From the very start, Callum is completely gone for Juniper, but she does everything she can to resist. Not just because of her past with his family, but because she can't imagine herself with the town’s beloved golden boy.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes a little time to find its footing, but once it does, it’s thoroughly engaging. Juniper is delightfully prickly, Callum is unwavering in his affection, and the plot brings all the emotional drama you’d hope for. I especially loved the setting on the Isle of Skye and all the details around her work at the inn — it added a lovely texture to the story. Plenty of spice, so head's up!

3.5⭐️
This was such a fun and easy read. I really enjoyed Juniper and Callum’s story. The description of this book is what drew me in so I was unaware this was book 2 for the brothers but now I plan to read book 1 and looking forward to book 3. Thank you NetGalley for this arc and intro to Elliot Fletcher.

Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to eARC Scott on the Rocks!

So, this is evidently book two of a little series, but it read so well as a standalone. I loved the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Callum and Juniper. This book was filled with yearning, passion, and beautifully done character growth for our FMC.

Juniper was easy to fall in love with. She felt so real, and there were times when I found myself wanting to hug her like she was my best friend. Callum was a dream. He was protective, sweet, funny, and truly was a champion for Juniper. They were a very fun puzzle to watch fall together.

I loved the Isle of Skye. I've never been, but Elliot Fletcher did a wonderful job of painting the setting into my head. I loved the travel tidbits, I loved the clear home feeling created. I thought it was the perfect setting for these two characters.

Now, can we talk about what made this book for me? The. Yearning. I appreciated how this was built and built and built. The tension, the romance, the spice. This is what I look for in contemporary romance, and I am so excited to have found it.

Overall, highly recommend.
3.75 stars (rounded to 4 for netgalley.com)
def a 3.5 🌶

Definitely Read this book if you like the following tropes:

*Black Cat X Golden Retriever
*Small Town Romance
*So So Much Yearning
*All the Banter

I absolutely loved this book, it had spice, banter, and just in general loved the writing of this! I will be going back and reading the first book in this series and can't wait for more to be released.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for offering me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved getting back to this world in the Isle of Skye. These characters were so complex and interesting and the pining, slow burn type of love really did it for me. Juniper and callum were a delight to get to know.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Elliot Fletcher for an advanced reader's copy.

I fell in love with Fletcher’s writing when I discovered her Whisky Business last year and could not be more thrilled to be back in her world. Scotch on the Rocks is a stellar addition to the Macabe brothers line up. Fletcher’s take on some familiar tropes (age gap, brother’s ex, he falls first) is refreshing and fun. I’m a sucker for a black cat / golden retriever pairing with lots of yearning! The interplay between plot, romance, and spice is perfectly balanced as to feel believable but also whimsical with that take-my-breath-away magic.

This is the second book in Elliot Fletcher's Macabre Brothers series, but it can be read independently. With a predictable but satisfying plot, this novel follows Callum Macabre and Juniper Ross. Callum fell for Juniper before finding out she was dating his brother. However, when her engagement falls apart, things get complicated. The characters are engaging and memorable, and I liked seeing how they grew throughout the story. The descriptions of Scotland were a major plus, too!

Juniper and Callum’s story is a slow-burn romance packed with tension, longing, and so much heart. From the very first page, I was hooked. And by the end, I didn’t want to let them go.

Juniper Ross has one rule when it comes to the Macabe brothers: avoid them. But when fate (and a whole lot of unresolved history) throws her into Callum Macabe’s orbit, that rule starts to crumble fast. He’s infuriating, magnetic, and impossible to ignore, and watching their emotional walls come down bit by bit is what makes this romance so satisfying.

The author does a brilliant job of creating a rich, grounded world and filling it with characters who feel real. Juniper is sharp, vulnerable, and so easy to root for. Callum is the quiet, protective type with hidden depths, and together? They are fire. The banter is sharp, the emotional beats hit hard, and the payoff is more than worth the slow burn.

The fact that this is the author’s first traditionally published novel blew me away. It’s confident, immersive, and beautifully written. And knowing they came from indie publishing just makes the success that much sweeter.

The spice level was perfection! Steamy without being over the top.

This is one of those stories that lingers long after you finish. I’m so excited I got to read it early, thank you NetGalley for this opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Elliot Fletcher for this ARC.

This book is a fantastic small-town tension filled romance.

I am obsessed with Callum and June. They are messy, spicy, adorable, playful and secretly longing to have someone to lean on. Callum puts everyone ahead of himself and June closes herself off. He has loved her for years and decides to stop holding back. His relentless force has her to opening up and leaning on him in ways she she has never done before. Watching their relationship grow was heartwarming.

Although this is a bother’s ex-fiancé situation, it did not bother me. Allister is mostly off page, and this allowed me to not really connect with him at this point.

This story really pulled at me.

I loved this! Definitely a fun sequel and I really enjoyed being back with these characters again.
I’m super excited for the third book in the series and will absolutely recommend these brothers!

THIS is how you start a book!

I love when a book starts with a bang and boy does this one.

I read Whisky Business last year and had such a good time with it I knew I needed to jump on this one! It did not disappoint and dare I say, the author has stepped up her craft! This is one you won’t want to miss!

What’s to love…
- black cat FMC + Golden retriever MMC (reverse grumpy/sunshine)
- He’s is down BAD for her
- forbidden romance (ex-fiancee’s brother)
- age-gap (9 years)
- A++++ banter and tension
- well-developed characters (and a side of trauma, and healing)
- Isle of Sky (small-town) Scotland setting
- dual POV (so we get to see how much of a simp the MMC is)
- SPICY 🌶️ - a little edging, a little teasing, perfectly placed and utterly delicious!

What’s not to love…
- because the beginning was such a BANG the acing then felt a bit off as we dialed back the tension and steam - in the end it was overall well paced but it initially lost my attention for a brief moment.

🌶️ - This is spicy, open door and explicit. This one might be hard to skip the spice scenes if thats your preference. Those who appreciate a nice balance of plot and spice will find this one has plenty of plot but also plenty of of spice. Chapters with spicy bits are: Glasgow Three Years Later, 18, 23, 29, 34, 35, 37

Scotch on the Rocks was so freaking fantastic! I 100% fell hard for Callum and Juniper.

Ex fiancé's brother, yearning, black cat x golden retriever, and it's set in Scotland?! This just had all the ingredients to be an awesome romance. I truly enjoyed Juniper and Callum. There were great characters and I liked their arcs. However, I loved them even more together! The black cat & golden retriever dynamic will win me over every time. I had so much fun with their dynamic: the teasing, yearning and undeniable chemistry. These two were simply a perfect pairing. I loved them!

The setting was magical. I love Scotland so any story set there is immediately going to get points but I really liked how Fletcher wrote the descriptions. I could easily imagine myself there.

An unputdownable romance!

Unfortunately this was not for me. The brothers fiancé trope gave me the ick and I could get into the romance because I didn’t feel it was at all believable that he fell in love with her after one train ride. And when she asked him to perform better than his brother in their first sexual encounter I knew I could not go on.
The writing was good but the story was just not for me.

The backstory was delicious. I loved learning more about Juniper and Callum. We find out in Scotch on the Rocks that they put up fronts for their loved ones, it was wonderful to see them put down their guards for each other. This book felt more like the current trending format for traditionally published books with the heavy emotional introspection. I do prefer Whisky Business which was lighter, had more smut and had a faster, less traditional pace but I think most people's favorite will be Scotch on the Rocks.